Toy train system accessory



March 27, 1956 H. s. NODDINGS TOY TRAIN SYSTEM ACCESSORY Filed April 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiemgmivaddz'r s INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

March 27, 1956 H. S. NODDINGS TOY TRAIN SYSTEM ACCESSORY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UnitedStates, Patent TOY TRAIN SYSTEM ACCESSORY Henry S. Noddings, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Application April 12, 1954, Serial No. 422,511

3 Claims. (Cl. 258-4) This invention relates to toy electric train systems, and more particularly to accessories for such train systems.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an accessory embodying means for automatically removing a simulated mail pouch from the mail car of a train of cars moving over the rails of the track, forming a part of the toy train system. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a control means in the form of a disc which is sensitive to the infiuence of a stationary magnet, the disc being divided into segments representing mailing zones, to the end that by setting the mechanism, the mail may be removed at predetermined periods for delivery to certain mail delivery zones.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for removing a mail pouch from a moving train, said mail pouch removing means comprising a permanent magnet, carried by a supporting arm of a stationary mail receiving crane supported adjacent to the track, and which attracts a metal plate secured to the mail pouch, holding the pouch in a suspended position on the hanger.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and corn binations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view, showing a mail car equipped with a mail pouch supporting means, constructed in accordance with the invention, as in a position to move adjacent to a stationary hanger to which the mail pouch will be transferred.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the hanger in a set position, the hanger being shown in dotted lines in its active or mail pouch receiving position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail view illustrating the magnetically operated zone disc as in a position holding the hanger set.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the movable magnet carried by the car, as passing adjacent to the disc to move the disc.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental elevational view of the upper end of the mail pouch with the magnet sensitive plate, as secured thereto.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental front elevational view of the The receivingarm 8 is provided with an extension 10 matter thereon, such as the name of a station, or Go or,

Stop signals.

At the other end of the receiving arm 8, is the cross arm 11 which provides a support for the weight 12 that is secured to one end thereof, while at the other end of said cross arm 11, is a magnet 13, the weight 12 being sufiicient to overbalance the magnet 13 when the arm is released to swing by gravitation.

Also secured to the platform 6, is a disc 14 which rotates in a horizontal plane, the disc 14 having its upper surface marked with lines 15 radiating from the axis thereof, the lines 15 dividing the upper surface of the disc into mailing zones. The reference character 16 indicates a bracket to which the latch arm 17 is pivotally connected, the latch arm 17 being in the form of a bell crank lever with its end 18 extended upwardly, the end 18 being of a length to normally rest in the path of travel of the extension 10 to the end that when the latch arm 17 is in'its normal latching position, the arm 8 will beheld in-the position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. However, when the latch arm 17 moves downwardly and the end 18 moves to disengage the extension 10, the weight 12 will cause the arm 8 to swing to the dotted line position as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, whereupon the permanent magnet 13 is in direct line with the steel plate which is sensitive to the influence of the permanent magnet, and which is carried by the mail pouch.

Secured to the free end of the latch arm 17, is the latch finger 19 which is of a width to move into the opening 20 formed in the disc 14, with the opening falling opposite to the latch finger 19. When the latch finger 19 moves into the opening 20, it is obvious that the latch arm 17 will tilt to the dotted line position as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings, which causes the end 18 to swing away from the extension 10 releasing the receiving arm 8, as in the manner as described.

The mail pouch is indicated by the reference character 21, and the steel plate, which is sensitive to the influence of the permanent magnet, is indicated by the reference character 22 and is secured to the mail pouch in such a way that when it is being moved towards the mail hanger, by the car, the steel plate 22 will move in a direct line to the permanent magnet 13, where the magnet will pick off the mail sack by its attraction of the plate, holding the mail pouch suspended on the hanger mounted on the platform 6'.

Mounted on the forward end of the mail car 7 and extended laterally therefrom, is a permanent magnet 23 which is so designed that it will move directly over one edge of the disc 14, in a manner as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings, attracting the disc to cause the disc to rotate substantially one-eighth of a cycle or turn. It will be obvious that when the disc 14 has rotated to a position to bring the opening 20 thereof directly under the latch finger 19, the latch finger 19 will move into the opening preventing further rotation of the disc 14, and at the same time operating the latch arm 17, allowing the latch arm to swing to the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Due to this construction, it will be obvious that by manually rotating the disc 14 to a desired position, the opening 26 may be so located with respect to the latch finger 19 that the operation of the device may be timed to operate at any desired point for releasing the mail pouch in any desired zone.

In operation, the mail pouch 21 is hung on the usual hanger of the car, which is indicated by the reference forwardly.

Patented Mar. 27,1956

arsarse It'is obvious that as the car moves towards the hanger, the magnet 23 will move adjacent to the disc 14, rotating the disc, or moving the disc approximately one-eighth of a turn as the car passes the hanger.

\ When the latch .finger drops into the openingZO, the cross arm 11 willv swing forwardly into the path of travel of the mail pouch, as described, so that the permanent magnet 13 will attract the mail pouch, and hold the mail pouch suspended for removal by the operator of the toy train.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

, 1. Means for removing a mail pouch from a car moving over a track, comprising a hanger extending from said car on which a mail pouch is hung, a steel plate secured to said mail pouch, a vertical stationary post supported in proximity to the path of travel of such moving car, an arm pivotally mounted on saidpost, a permanent magnet mounted on said arm, means controlled by' the movement of a car moving over its track for moving said arm and permanent magnet into the path of travel of said steel plate of the pouch supported on said car, removing said pouch fromits supporting arm by contact of said permanent magnet with the steel plate of said pouch.

2'. Means for removing a mail pouch from a moving car, comprising a hanger extending laterally from said car on which a mail pouch is hung, a steel plate secured to' such mail pouch, a mail receiving platform mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said car, a vertical stationary receiving post rising from said platform, an arm pivotally mounted on said post, a permanent magnet on said arm, and means for moving said arm and permanent magnet into the path of travel of said mail pouch and steel plate toriemoving the pouch from said hanger by con; tact of said permanent magnet with. the steel plate of the 1 car, a stationary platform adjacent to the path of travel of said car, a post rising from said platform, a receiving arm pivotally mounted at the upper end of said post, a vertically swinging latch arm mounted on said platform engaging said receiving arm for normally holding said receiving arm in a set position, a metallic disc having an opening, rotatable 'in a horizontal plane, mounted on said platform, a latch finger normally resting on the upper surface of said disc for normally holding the latch arm in its set position, and a permanent magnet extending from said car movable adjacent to said disc for rotating said disc as the car moves adjacent thereto, said latch finger adapted to move into said opening of said disc moving said latch member to disengage said receiving arm, and a permanent magneton said receiving arm for engagement with said steel plate and said pouch, removing the pouch from said hanger by contact of said permanent magnet with the steel plate of the mail pouch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,008 Broughton Feb. 25, 1908 

